This year, the James Beard Awards celebrated the “Sounds of the City,” a look at how musical artists influence the culinary community. The event, produced by Bowen & Company, drew hundreds of chefs and culinary celebrities to Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in New York City on May 5.
After the medals were handed out at the award ceremony, which was co-hosted by TV personality Ted Allen and restaurateur Mario Batali, guests dined on dishes inspired by the chefs’ favorite beats and sounds —ranging from genres to musicians to specific songs. The gala reception chefs were chosen from cities that boast vibrant music scenes, such as Memphis, New Orleans, and Chicago.
Surf rock spawned the prawn dish topped with airy “sea foam” by Ford Fry of No. 246 in Decatur, Georgia.
Photo: Luke Townsend for Kent Miller Studios
Dante Boccuzzi of Dante in Cleveland, Ohio, served beet-tinted hamachi with lemon caper remoulade on top of a drumstick-lined table.
Photo: Kent Miller Studios
Inspired by Delta blues, Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman of Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen in Memphis, Tennessee, offered fresh halibut crudo garnished with a vibrant asparagus salsa verde.
Photo: Kent Miller Studios
The Zac Brown Band’s “Knee Deep” song inspired 2013 James Beard Award winner Stephanie Izard of Girl & the Goat in Chicago to create trout tartare with marinated clams.
Photo: Kent Miller Studios
Sue Torres of Tierra in Westport, Connecticut, presented spicy shrimp sope with cured red onion and avocado.
Photo: Luke Townsend for Kent Miller Studios
Marc Vetri and Adam Leonti of Vetri in Philadelphia hand made spaghetti alla chitarra, also known as guitar spaghetti. To make it, sheets of pasta are hung over metal wires, which are then "strummed" in order to cut the pasta into spaghetti strands.
Photo: Lola Haze/BFAnyc.com
The Big Easy’s blues scene struck a chord with David Slater of Emeril’s New Orleans, who created duck liver bruschetta with smoked Gulf tuna and collard greens.
Photo: Luke Townsend for Kent Miller Studios
Taking a cue from New Orleans jazz, Jonathan Benno of Lincoln Ristorante in New York prepared a classic muffaletta, a sandwich that hails from Louisiana.
Photo: Lola Haze/BFAnyc.com
Attendees feasted on music-inspired dishes after the award ceremony, which was held at Lincoln Center on May 5.
Photo: Lola Haze/BFAnyc.com
